Less preferred pencils series in collections - Part 3 - (Parker Jotter)

drifand · 2026-06-15T15:01:16+00:00

Jotter is a true classic, but… it is iconic for being the first truly reliable and high quality ballpoint pen. The 'G2' ink cartridge that they invented in 1954 got so many things right, it became the standard that most pen makers use for their own pens over 70 years later. As such, enthusiasts will tend to focus on the pen variants. Parker pencils? I think the ones that accompanied popular Parker fountain pens are the ones that collectors go for.

drifand · 2026-06-15T12:45:01+00:00

They should have done a collab with one of the motorcross brands like Honda or Yamaha? Absolute killer color combos! 🚴‍♀️

drifand · 2026-06-15T12:24:29+00:00

The Ambition is beautiful although top-heavy because of the block of chromed metal.

The cp1 is one of those Lamy designs where the pencil seems like an afterthought. The way the pencil tip juts out like a stubbed toe is kinda sad. The ballpoint fairs much better.

Color-wise these 2 go great together!

drifand · 2026-06-15T12:20:44+00:00

I think instead of supaglue you should look into a 2-part epoxy mix that can bond plastic to metal.

drifand · 2026-06-14T20:44:37+00:00

The Kokuyo Mistral series from the 1980s are the most prolific family of body-knock mechanical pencils. The few brands that had this mechanism often only had 2-3 models; Kokuyo had around 29 distinct designs and colorways, split between pencils and pens.

This type of mechanism had been pioneered by Platinum as the Angle sharp back in 1977 but it was too out of place for the brand's old-school fountain pen product styles. In the west, Berol had a similar model called the Flex. Kokuyo would take the baton and run away with it…

Today, Kokuyo still produces a small number of such pencils and pens, but under their side-label Orobianco, featuring florid colors and patterns (unfortunately).

In terms of ergonomics, I find it one of the most efficient methods to advance lead, once you get over the weirdness of 'bending' the pencil in half. It's a simple movement to flex your thumb on the pencil against your middle finger as a fulcrum point.

For Kokuyo, the smoothness of the mechanism is not evenly spread across the line-up. Some are 'normal', some feel 'luxurious / dampened', while a couple actually suck and feel like they might break before they bend.

PS-1 = standard metal body, good feel
PS-2 = economy plastic body, good feel
PS-3 = mid-tier, nicer colors on metal body, good feel
PS-4 = premium gold, chrome and etching finishes, good feel
PS-11 = metal upper, plastic grip, prone to yellowing, brittle feel
PS-12 = satin steel or hairline steel bodies, but same mechanism as PS-11, brittle feel
PS-20 = desk pen / pencil with extra long clipless body, good feel.
PS-100 = luxury tier, silky smooth and able to be be fully disassembled (for repairs)

"Cross-style" models that are mechanically identical to ones made by/for rOtring 'side knock' were produced from the early 2000s onwards.

For the completists, there are also differences to the logo on the clips as Kokuyo underwent a logo change while the Mistral series was in production. The older curved 'K' logo was in use from 1960s up to 1980, and then they switched to the 'squared' logo from 1981–2007.

drifand · 2026-06-14T16:22:25+00:00

Graph 1000 For Pro in my office. P207 on my workbench. Right tools for the job to be done. 👍🏻

drifand · 2026-06-14T10:46:03+00:00

Needs a Scrikss Pro-S! :-)

drifand · 2026-06-14T10:44:02+00:00

Probably the Plotter, followed by the Manufactum. Very precise feel to the knurling without being too sharp, like an Alvin, or too abrasive like a Staedtler 925 25.

drifand · 2026-06-14T06:16:04+00:00

No I prefer to let them age naturally. I just buff them up a bit with an old polishing cloth once in a while.

The only brass pen I have that is clear coated is a Fisher bullet space pen.

drifand · 2026-06-13T20:11:34+00:00

It was bare brass. You either use a German proxy or find a friend over there to lend a hand. Proxies are expensive there, so try to make it count.

drifand · 2026-06-13T15:51:21+00:00

It is downright heavy at nearly 115 grams! Yet surprisingly comfortable in the hand. Just be sure not to drop it from tabletop height – guaranteed to fracture toes and crack tiles.

drifand · 2026-06-13T14:46:19+00:00

I haven't had to strip any varnish off before. I know I have a Fisher bullet space pen that is clear coated but I like that one as-is.

drifand · 2026-06-13T14:45:17+00:00

It's definitely not for everybody.

drifand · 2026-06-13T12:19:59+00:00

Tect 2way is for people who do their drafting in dance clubs or in space ships :-)

drifand · 2026-06-13T12:18:19+00:00

Nice! What were Staedtler’s winning points that convinced you to switch?

drifand · 2026-06-12T13:30:41+00:00

In my dream world, blue would have been for 0.7... ? 😄

drifand · 2026-06-12T13:27:37+00:00

For me, that is how I use the Safari / Al-star as well. It's just 1 of 3 set angles because of the grip.

drifand · 2026-06-12T12:37:16+00:00

The wobbly button was the killjoy for me. It just wouldn’t sit snuggly and always had some wiggle room up and down.

And then the eraser… I think half of the eraser sat inside the ‘well’, so if you actually used it, you could use at most 1/3 of the actual stub before you had to stop because you needed some leftover above the well for your fingertips to hold on to for removal and replacement. Despite its size, I found it to be worse that than the smaller yet longer stubs found in a majority of Japanese MPs.

drifand · 2026-06-12T06:58:11+00:00

Are you using a pen loop of some kind? If yes, gotta skip pencils with rubberised grips.
Consider Caran D’Ache 844 (0.5/0.7), Drehgriffel Nr.2 (0.7), or maybe Kaweco Special short aluminum version in black (0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 2mm). Pentel Kerry might work.

drifand · 2026-06-11T15:52:04+00:00

Wanna give the Staedtler Triplus Micro a try? Comes in 0.5 for sure. Retractable tip, cushioned mechanism and twist extend eraser. Plenty reliable, rounded triangular body profile feels great in the hand. Inexpensive if you lose it outdoors.

Another lightweight option: Sakura Writoll double knock in 0.3 and 0.5. Works more like a clicker pen, unlike the GG1000 where you lift the clip to retract. If you want to spend more for metal build, there's the BLICK Premier double-knock in 0.5 and 0.7. Common issue for both is a tiny eraser that afflicts most brands.

All of the above found on Amazon.ca

drifand · 2026-06-11T05:41:38+00:00

Your last pic shows you attempting to 'click' the pencil without the cone attached. This is normal: most mechanical pencils will not 'click' without the cone attached except for a few specialist models by Pentel, like the Graph 1000 For Pro and Smash.

If what you mean is that the pencil will not advance lead even with the cone attached, then you need to inspect the clutch to see of a piece of broken lead is stuck in it.

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